Antônio R. Panizzi

Stink Bugs (Pentatomidae)

The Pentatomidae, representing the fourth largest family within Heteroptera, are one of the most diverse groups with about 800 genera and more than 4,700 species in the world. In the Neotropics, about 230 genera and 1,400 species are included in seven subfamilies of the world’s nine subfamilies; four subfamilies are exclusively of the Neotropics. In this chapter, for each subfamily, a diagnosis, an overview of the classification, and information on life history, ecology, and economic importance are given. Comprehensive keys and diagnosis to the subfamilies, tribes, and genera for the Neotropical Region, including Mexico, Central and South America, and the West Indies, are also given.

Suboptimal nutrition and feeding behavior of hemipterans on less preferred plant food sources

Phytophagous hemipterans (heteropterans) are, in general, polyphagous, feeding on a wide array of plants. Among these, less preferred plant food sources are also explored as food and/or shelter. To illustrate this, I will discuss the feeding behavior of the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.) (Pentatomidae) on less preferred plants in Northern Parana state. This bug feeds on several uncultivated-wild, and on cultivated plants, which are less preferred, changing its feeding behavior, from a typical seed/fruit sucking habit, to leaf/stem feeding, with consequences for its nymphal and adult performance. Other seed suckers, such as Euschistus heros (F.) and Dichelops melacanthus (Dallas) (Pentatomidae) and Neomegalotomus parvus Westwood (Alydidae), also change their feeding behavior from seeds to vegetative tissues (leaf, stems) when feeding on less preferred food plants. These and other mentioned examples demonstrate that for this feeding guild in particular, the less preferred food plant sources play an important role in the life history of these bugs, and that this fact is, in general, underestimated.

Alarm pheromone system of leaf-footed bugLeptoglossus zonatus (Heteroptera: Coreidae)

The alarm pheromone system ofLeptoglossus zonatus (Dallas) adults was shown to be composed of hexyl acetate, hexanol, hexanal, and hexanoic acid. Single components tested in the field elicited dispersive behavior of over 70% of adults. 2-(E)-Hexenal, found in the secretion of nymphs, but not in the exudates of adults, was also active against adults. In addition, first-instar nymphs responded to the four components of the alarm pheromone of adults as well as to 2-(E)-hexenal, a component of their own alarm pheromone system. Adults and nymphs possess different alarm pheromone systems, which are not specific to their own life stage. That hemipteran alarm pheromone systems are not species-specific was supported by the fact that both adult and nymphL. zonatus responded to butanoic acid, an alarm pheromone of Alydidae, which was not found in this Coreidae species.The alarm pheromone system ofLeptoglossus zonatus (Dallas) adults was shown to be composed of hexyl acetate, hexanol, hexanal, and hexanoic acid. Single components tested in the field elicited dispersive behavior of over 70% of adults. 2-(E)-Hexenal, found in the secretion of nymphs, but not in the exudates of adults, was also active against adults. In addition, first-instar nymphs responded to the four components of the alarm pheromone of adults as well as to 2-(E)-hexenal, a component of their own alarm pheromone system. Adults and nymphs possess different alarm pheromone systems, which are not specific to their own life stage. That hemipteran alarm pheromone systems are not species-specific was supported by the fact that both adult and nymphL. zonatus responded to butanoic acid, an alarm pheromone of Alydidae, which was not found in this Coreidae species.

Duration of feeding and superficial and in-depth damage to soybean seed by selected species of stink bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

Laboratory studies were conducted to compare duration of feeding and superficial and in-depth damage to soybean (Glycine max) seeds by the Southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.), the Neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros (F.), the red-banded stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood), and the green-belly stink bug, Dichelops melacanthus (Dallas). Results indicated that feeding time was significantly longer for N. viridula (≈ 133 min) compared to E. heros and D. melacanthus (≈ 70 min), but not different from P. guildinii (≈ 103 min). There was a positive correlation between feeding time and the resulting damage for E. heros, N. viridula and P. guildinii (R² > 0.80, P < 0.0001), but not for D. melacanthus (R² = 0.1011, P = 0.1493). The deepest seed damage (2.0 mm) was made by P. guildinii and the shallowest (0.5 mm) by D. melacanthus. The depth of the seed damage by E. heros and N. viridula (0.8, 1.2 mm, respectively) was intermediate in comparison to the other species studied. Feeding damage to the seed endosperm caused variable cell disruption and protein body dissolution, particularly when P. guildinii fed on seeds, suggesting that the deleterious action of salivary enzymes was greater for this bug compared to the others.

History and Contemporary Perspectives of the Integrated Pest Management of Soybean in Brazil

The integrated pest management (IPM) of soybean developed and implemented in Brazil was one of the most successful programs of pest management in the world. Established during the 1970s, it showed a tremendous level of adoption by growers, decreasing the amount of insecticide use by over 50%. It included outstanding approaches of field scouting and decision making, considering the economic injury levels (EILs) for the major pests. Two main biological control programs were highly important to support the soybean IPM program in Brazil, i.e., the use of a NPVAg to control the major defoliator, the velvet bean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner, and the use of egg parasitoids against the seed-sucking stink bugs, in particular, the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.). These two biological control programs plus pests scouting, and the use of more selective insecticides considering the EILs supported the IPM program through the 1980s and 1990s. With the change in the landscape, with the adoption of the no-tillage cultivation system and the introduction of more intense multiple cropping, and with the lower input to divulge and adapt the IPM program to this new reality, the program started to decline during the years 2000s. Nowadays, soybean IPM is almost a forgotten control technology. In this mini-review article, suggestions are made to possibly revive and adapt the soybean IPM to contemporary time.

Bacteria in the Gut of Southern Green Stink Bug (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

Abstract Laboratory studies with the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.), indicated the presence of bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae (Schroeter) and Enterococcus faecalis (Andrewes & Horder) in the crop/stomach (ventriculus 1–3; V1–V3), and possibly Pantoea sp. in the gastric caeca (ventriculus 4; V4). Culturable bacteria were most abundant in V1–V3, and their abundance was drastically reduced in V4. The variable pH in the gut did not affect the presence of bacteria. Elimination of bacteria from the gut, by using the antibiotic kanamicin, did not affect nymphal developmental time or cause mortality, but it did cause reduced weight at adult emergence.

Seasonal abundance of the neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros, in overwintering sites, and the breaking of dormancy

The seasonal abundance of the neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), in overwintering sites in northern Paraná state, Brazil (latitude 23°11′ S, longitude 51°11′ W) was monitored from September 1994 to August 1995. The breaking of dormancy (oligopause) was studied in the laboratory by comparing the feeding activity and reproduction of adults collected in the field under different physiological conditions (i.e., dormant and non‐dormant). No bugs were found in overwintering sites during the summer (December to February) and during early autumn (March). From mid‐autumn to winter (April – August), the number of E. heros captured in these sites gradually increased, decreasing thereafter with the start of spring in September. Dormant and non‐dormant E. heros taken to the laboratory and maintained at 25 ± 1 °C, 65 ± 5% r.h., and L14: D10 photoperiod, and given suitable food (soybean pods or seeds), began feeding immediately. The number of stylet sheaths deposited/day on the food was greater for non‐dormant than for dormant adults. Feeding activity was greater on immature pods than on mature seeds of soybean. Dormant females placed under suitable biotic and abiotic conditions took ca. 2 weeks to start reproduction, in contrast to non‐dormant females, which reproduced immediately.

Seasonal body weight, lipid content, and impact of starvation and water stress on adult survivorship and longevity of Nezara viridula and Euschistus heros

Fresh and dry body weights (FW, DW) were greater for adult southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.) than for the brown stink bug, Euschistus heros F. throughout the year in southern Brazil. Females N. viridula significantly increased FW and DW in late summer‐early autumn, and during mid‐spring; female E. heros did not show the same rates of increase in FW and DW. Female N. viridula were heavier than males, particularly during summer; however, female and male E. heros were generally similar in weight. E. heros contained significantly greater amounts of lipid than N. viridula, during mid‐autumn to early‐spring (April‐September). Survivorship (%) and total longevity of E. heros adults provided water only was greater (34.6–24.6 days, for females and males) than that for N. viridula (14.8–13.0 days); without water and food, longevity was drastically reduced (<7 days) for both species.

The role of Acanthospermum hispidum in the phenology of Euschistus heros and of Nezara viridula

Laboratory, greenhouse, and field studies with Euschistus heros (F.) and Nezara viridula (L.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in northern Paraná, Brazil, demonstrated greater survival and longevity with E. heros than N. viridula when fed the weed Acanthospermum hispidum DC. (Compositae). E. heros was better adapted to A. hispidum than N. viridula but neither species reproduced on this plant. Stink bugs moved from soybean to A. hispidum mainly during mid‐March to mid‐April when soybean plants matured. The infestation reached 60 and 100% with a maximum of ca. 3 and 10 stink bugs/plant in 1988 and 1989, respectively. Surprisingly, E. heros and N. viridula, which are normally seed‐feeders, strongly preferred the high moisture stems of A. hispidum. Both species demonstrated similar feeding frequencies. These results suggest that in northern Paraná, the common weed A. hispidum functions as a temporary host providing water and nutrients to those two pentatomid pests of soybean. Finally, both species do not seem to recognize A. hispidum as an unsuitable or perhaps toxic plant.

Interactions of Selected Species of Stink Bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) from Leguminous Crops with Plants in the Neotropics

Abstract Herein we discuss the interactions of selected species of phytophagous stink bug observed on leguminous (Fabaceae) crops in the Neotropics (Neotropical Region) with their associated plants. We included the following pentatomid species: Nezara viridula (L.), Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood), Euschistus heros (F.), Edessa meditabunda (F.), Dichelops furcatus (F.), Dichelops melacanthus (Dallas), and Thyanta perditor (F.). Based on a literature review, a list of plants on which these stink bug species were intercepted is included, indicating the reproductive hosts, i.e., plants on which bug can complete development, and incidental records, i.e., plants on which bugs are found occasionally. The change in feeding habits (from fruits/seeds of preferred host plants) to less preferred vegetative structures (stems/leaves of less preferred associated plants) for feeding or shelter, due to change in the landscape by intense multiple cropping and no-tillage cultivation systems is discussed.